Part 51 (1/2)
The singing ceased after a time, but they were still guided by the sound of wrangling voices.
”They are quarreling!” exclaimed Frank, softly.
”This is tut-tut-terrible!” stuttered the professor.
Suddenly the sound of a pistol shot came over the rushes, followed by a feminine shriek of pain or terror!
CHAPTER x.x.x.
FRANK'S SHOT.
Frank and his two companions were profoundly astonished. As soon as he could recover, Frank asked:
”Did you hear that?”
”Av course we hearrud it!” returned Barney, excitedly.
”It sounded very much like the voice of a woman or girl,” said Professor Scotch, who was so amazed that he forgot for the moment that he was scared.
”That's what it was,” declared Frank; ”and it means that our aid is needed in that quarter at once.”
”Be careful! be cautious!” warned the professor. ”There's no telling what kind of a gang we may run into.”
”To thunder with thot!” grated Barney Mulloy, quivering with eagerness.
”There's a female in nade av hilp.”
”Go ahead!” directed Frank, giving utterance to his old maxim.
The professor was too agitated to handle a paddle, so the task of propelling the canoe fell to the boys, who sent it skimming over the water, Frank watching out for snags.
In a moment the water course swept round to the left, and they soon saw the light of a fire gleaming through the rushes.
The sounds of a conflict continued, telling them that the quarrel was still on, and aiding them in forming their course.
In a moment they came in full view of the camp-fire, by the light of which they saw several struggling, swaying figures.
Frank's keen eyes seemed to take in everything at one sweeping glance.
Six men and a girl were revealed by the light of the fire. Five of the men were engaged in a fierce battle, while the sixth was bound, in a standing position, to the trunk of a tree.
The girl, with her hands bound behind her back, was standing near the man who was tied to the tree, and the firelight fell fairly on the faces of man and girl.
A low exclamation of the utmost astonishment broke from Frank's lips.
”It can't be--it is an impossibility!” he said.
”Pwhat is it, me b'y?” quickly demanded Barney.